Stump removal machine

ABSTRACT

A vehicle mounted stump removal machine employs a cutter carrying boom mounted for lateral swinging above the vehicle wheels, the boom being carried by a cradle or supporting structure mounted for oscillation about the vehicle wheel axis to control the operating depth of the cutter.

' United States Patent l l E Welborn Reissued Dec. 16, 1975 [54] STUMPREMOVAL MACHINE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] lnvemorl Robe"welbol'n Lafayelle M39109 111%) United Kingdom r, 144x: N

[73] Assignee: FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif.

[ Filed: y Primat E.\'uminer-Frunk T. Yost [21] App}, No: 485.173Assistant Examiner-Wt D. Bray Attorney, Agent. or Firm-C. E. TrippRelated US. Patent Documents Reissue of:

[64] Patent No.: 3,625,267

Issued: Dec. 7, 1971 ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 884,218 Filed: Dec. 11, 1969 Avehicle mounted stump removal machine employs a cutter carrying boommounted for lateral swinging [52] US. Cl. 144/2 N; 83/928 above thevehicle wheels the boom being carried by u [51] Int. Cl. AOIG 23/06cradle or supporting structure mounted for oscillation [58] Field ofSearch 144/2 N, 2 R; 83/928 about the vehicle wheel axis to control theoperating depth of the cutter [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 3308860 3/1967 De Shano .t l44/2 N5! I? t lllll l 13 "a 0 3? k l 22 I Q: l

t 1 i L 3 Reissued Dec. 16, 1975 SheetlofZ Re. 28,651

I/v VENTO/Q B0552 TE. 7/21. 50

STUMP REMOVAL MACHINE Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention has in common with prior stumpremoval machines employing a powered stump disintegrating cutter,mounting of the machine components on a two-wheel trailer having aforward draft connection and at its rear a cutter carrier operable tomove the cutter both vertically and laterally to traverse the stump inits cutting action.

Prior machines of this type have achieved these briefly stated cuttermovements by the use of mechanisms of relatively complex and expensiveconstruction and which have lacked certain perfonnance flexibilitiesfound to be desirable and which have occasioned development of thepresent machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention has for its general object toprovide a stump cutter machine in which the operating parts are reducedto simple and economical construction having operating features,conveniences and ranges heretofore unattainable by prior machines ofthis type.

More specifically, the invention has for its object to provide a novelconstruction employing a boom extending forwardly and rearwardly of thevehicle wheel axis and mounted to swing vertically to control the cutteroperating depth, and laterally to effect the cutter sweep across a stumpbeing disintegrated.

A further feature and object is mounting of the boom above the wheelaxis, and to particular benefit above the wheels so that in its lateralswing the boom avoids interference by the wheels.

Structurally, the invention contemplates mounting the boom on a cradleor carriage capable of oscillation longitudinally of the vehicle axis,and a further and particular object is to mount the carriage for suchoscillation about the vehicle wheel axis.

The invention has various additional features and objects such ascarriage support given the boom in its lateral swinging movements, andthe manner of power driving the cutter as well as controlling theoscillatory carrier carriage positions, all of which will be readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of an illustrativeembodiment of the invention shown by the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the machinewith the boom swing illustrated in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1 showing the cutter engaged with astump; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The machine components areshown to be transportable by a trailer type vehicle having axiallyaligned wheels and a forward draft A-frame having convergent members 11suitably connectible at 12 to a pulling vehicle, the frame when themachine is in use being stabilized by jack 13 carried by the frame.Members 11 have pivotal connections lla with supports 37, and may mountcontrols C for the hydraulically actuated devices employed for operationof the machine components as will appear.

The mechanisms include an elongated boom 14 mounted on a carriagestructure generally indicated at 15 above the wheel axis 16 andpreferably at an elevation above the wheels 10 so that the horizontal orlateral swing range of the boom can be free of interference by thewheels. Power for operation of the machine components is derived fromengine 17 having its base 18 supported on the boom, the engine havingdrive connection 19 with an hydraulic pump 20 also carried by the boom.The latter may contain an accommodation for fuel and oil generallyindicated at 201.

At its rear end the boom mounts cutters 21 of known type rotatable todisintegrate the stump 22. The cutters are carried by spaced arms 23interconnected at one side by portion 23a of the arm assembly whichdepends from the boom and is mounted for oscillation about shaft 24. Thearms 23 have upper yoke extensions 25 pivoted at 26 to the shaft 27 ofhydraulic cylinder 28 which in turn is pivoted at 29 to the boom. Uponactuation by hydraulic fluid supplied from the pump 20, the cylinder 28operates to swing cutters 21 and arms 23 longitudinally of the boom toefiect the cutter traverse across the stump 22. The cutters are shown tobe driven by chain 30 extending past idler 231 about sprocket 31 onshaft 24 and about the sprocket 32 carried by the cutter shaft 33.Sprocket 31 and the chain are driven from the engine 17 by way of belt34 carried by sheaves 35 and 36.

The carriage structure 15 comprises a pair of arms 37 having braces 371and depending from transverse member 38, the arms being pivoted foroscillation about the wheel axis 16. Forwardly of member 38 the carriageincludes an A-configuration frame F comprising members 39 converging toan apex as illustrated in FIG. 1. The boom 14 is pivoted at 42 to thecarriage A-frame at the convergence of members 39 to gussett 45 whichmounts the boom pivot. At its rear the carriage has a rigid upwardlyextending arm 48 to which is pivotally connected at 49 an hydrauliccylinder 50 connected at 51 to the draft frame and operable to oscillatethe carriage about its pivots at 16, thus to swing the boom verticallyas between the solid and broken line positions appearing in FIG. 2.Forwardly of the arms 37 and the carriage frame member 38 the carriagemounts a suitable means generally indicated at 54 for supporting theboom 14 throughout the range of its lateral swinging movement. Thesupport at 54 is shown in FIG. 1 to comprise arcuate [trace track 55joined to member 38 and adapted to he traveled by rollers 56 mounted tothe sides of the boom. The boom is actuated in its lateral swing byhydraulic cylinder 57 connected at 58 to the boom and at 59 to thecarriage.

In operation of the machine, the trailer is positioned in appropriateproximity to the stump 22 and anchored in place by the trailer hitch 12.As will be understood, while the vehicle is traveling the cutters 21will be elevated by the boom to ground clearance. At the stump locationthe cutters are lowered and started in operation at an elevationsufficient to disintegrate the stump exposure, for which purpose theboom may be swung laterally by the actuator 57 within required workingrange. After disintegration of the stump expo sure, the carriage may beelevated by actuator 50 to swing about the wheel axis and in so doing tolower the boom as to the FIG 2 broken line position The boom thus lowersthe cutters 21 to such subsurface depths as may be required fordisintegration of the stump roots.

I claim: [1. A stump removal machine comprising a vehicle having spacedaxially aligned wheels, an elongated laterally swingable boom alignablewith the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and extending above and acrossthe wheel axis from a boom pivot forwardly of said axis, a motor carriedby the vehicle, a rotating stump cutter driven by said motor and carriedby an arm depending from and having pivoted connection to the boom neara rear free end thereof, and a carriage mounting the boom for lateralswinging movement about said boom pivot and above said wheel axis, thecarriage mounted on the vehicle and there being carriage actuator meansfor oscillating the carriage to displace said arm and cutter up anddown, and arm actuator means carried by the boom to rotatably oscillatethe arm about said pivotal connection in the general direction of boomlongi tudinal extent and independently of carriage movement] 2. A stumpremoval machine according to claim 1, in which the boom elevation isabove the vehicle wheels] 3. A stump removal machine according to claimI: l 12, wherein said horizontal axis carriage pivot means provides I:is mounted I for oscillation about the wheel axis to control the cuttingdepth of said cutter.

[4. A stump removal machine according to claim 3, in which the boomelevation is above the vehicle wheels] [5. A stump removal machineaccording to claim 1, wherein powered means interconnecting the carriageand boom and operable to swing the boom around said pivot. I: 6. A stumpremoval machine according to claim 2, in which said carriage includesmeans supporting the boom throughout the range of its swingingmovements] I: 7. A stump removal machine according to claim 6, in whichsaid supporting means includes an arcuate track traveled by aboom-carried roller] 8. A stump removal machine according to claim 1 112. in which said motor is mounted on the boom carriage I and [the] saidcarriage [is oscillated by a power source at 1 actuator means isconnected between the vehicle and the forward end of the carriage. I: 9.A stump removal machine according to claim 6, in which said motor ismounted on the carriage and the carriage is oscillated by a power sourceat the forward end of the carriage. I

10. A stump removal machine according to claim I l 1 12, in which thevehicle includes a forward draft A-frame attachable to a pullingvehicle, and said carriage includes a second A-frame and I ,saidcarriage actuator means [for I oscillating the carriage A-frame relativeto said draft A-frame said pivot means for mounting the boom on saidcarriage being adjacent the apex of said second A-frame.

1 l. A stump removal machine according to claim 10, including meanssupporting the carriage A-frame for oscillation about the wheel axis.

1 2. A stump removal machine of the type comprising a vehicle havingspaced, axially aligned wheels, an elongated boom extending rearwardlyfrom said vehicle, means for pivotally mounting a forward portion ofsaid boom on said vehicle including pivot means for providing up anddown motion of the boom and pivot means for providing laterally swingingmotion of the rearward end of the boom relative to the vehicle, an armpivotally mounted on and depending from the rearward end portion of saidboom, arm actuator means on said boom for oscillating said armlongitudinally of said boom, a rotary stump cutter on the lower end ofsaid arm, and a motor for driving said stump cutter; the improvementwherein said means for pivotally mounting said boom on the vehiclecomprises a carriage, pivot means mounting said carriage on the vehiclefor pivotal motion about a generally horizontal axis for providing saidup and down boom motion, carriage actuator means connected between saidvehicle and the carriage for pivoting said carriage about said generallyhorizontal axis to displace said arm and cutter up and down, pivot meansmounting said boom on said carria ge for pivotal motion about agenerally vertical axis that is forward of the axis of said wheels forproviding said laterally swinging boom motion, said boom extending fromsaid vertical axis pivot means across and rearwardly of said wheel axis,and actuator means connected between said carriage and the boom forlaterally swinging said boom relative to said carriage.

1. A stump removal machine comprising a vehicle having spaced axiallyaligned wheels, an elongated laterally swingable boom alignable with thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle and extending above and across thewheel axis from a boom pivot forwardly of said axis, a motor carried bythe vehicle, a rotating stump cutter driven by said motor and carried byan arm depending from and having pivoted connection to the boom near arear free end thereof, and a carriage mounting the boom for lateralswinging movement about said boom pivot and above said wheel axis, thecarriage mounted on the vehicle and there being carriage actuator meansfor oscillating the carriage to displace said arm and cutter Up anddown, and arm actuator means carried by the boom to rotatably oscillatethe arm about said pivotal connection in the general direction of boomlongitudinal extent and independently of carriage movement.) (
 2. Astump removal machine according to claim 1, in which the boom elevationis above the vehicle wheels.)
 3. A stump removal machine according toclaim (1) 12, wherein said horizontal axis carriage pivot means provides(is mounted) for oscillation about the wheel axis to control the cuttingdepth of said cutter. (
 4. A stump removal machine according to claim 3,in which the boom elevation is above the vehicle wheels.) (
 5. A stumpremoval machine according to claim 1, wherein powered meansinterconnecting the carriage and boom and operable to swing the boomaround said pivot.) (
 6. A stump removal machine according to claim 2,in which said carriage includes means supporting the boom throughout therange of its swinging movements.) (
 7. A stump removal machine accordingto claim 6, in which said supporting means includes an arcuate tracktraveled by a boom-carried roller.)
 8. A stump removal machine accordingto claim (1) 12, in which said motor is mounted on the boom (carriage)and (the) said carriage (is oscillated by a power source at) actuatormeans is connected between the vehicle and the forward end of thecarriage.
 10. A stump removal machine according to claim (1) 12, inwhich the vehicle includes a forward draft A-frame attachable to apulling vehicle, and said carriage includes a second A-frame (and) ,said carriage actuator means (for) oscillating the carriage A -framerelative to said draft A -frame (.) , said pivot means for mounting theboom on said carriage being adjacent the apex of said second A-frame.11. A stump removal machine according to claim 10, including meanssupporting the carriage A-frame for oscillation about the wheel axis.12. A stump removal machine of the type comprising a vehicle havingspaced, axially aligned wheels, an elongated boom extending rearwardlyfrom said vehicle, means for pivotally mounting a forward portion ofsaid boom on said vehicle including pivot means for providing up anddown motion of the boom and pivot means for providing laterally swingingmotion of the rearward end of the boom relative to the vehicle, an armpivotally mounted on and depending from the rearward end portion of saidboom, arm actuator means on said boom for oscillating said armlongitudinally of said boom, a rotary stump cutter on the lower end ofsaid arm, and a motor for driving said stump cutter; the improvementwherein said means for pivotally mounting said boom on the vehiclecomprises a carriage, pivot means mounting said carriage on the vehiclefor pivotal motion about a generally horizontal axis for providing saidup and down boom motion, carriage actuator means connected between saidvehicle and the carriage for pivoting said carriage about said generallyhorizontal axis to displace said arm and cutter up and down, pivot meansmounting said boom on said carriage for pivotal motion about a generallyvertical axis that is forward of the axis of said wheels for providingsaid laterally swinging boom motion, said boom extending from saidvertical axis pivot means across and rearwardly of said wheel axis, andactuator means connected between said carriage and tHe boom forlaterally swinging said boom relative to said carriage.